freelance journalist, based in Venezuela
Freelance journalist based in Caracas, Venezuela. He writes for Newsweek, the Economist, and the Miami Herald
PROFILE
Phillip Gunson
Guest
FROM Phillip Gunson
To the Point
Bush's New Way Forward in Iraq; Chavez's Venezuela One of the promises of the President Bush's New Way Forward in Iraq is deployment of "provincial reconstruction teams" to work with local leaders. Echoing the President's plan at yesterday's news conference with the Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice affirmed that success will depend on the US getting civilians out of the embassy and green zone and into the field to support local leaders and structures. We hear how America's original occupying force walled itself off from the Iraqi people. Is there still time for a change or is the new plan too little too late? Also, today, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says he'll nationalize communications, electricity and oil companies and turn his country into a socialist state. Should the US be worried? Has the war on terror diverted the Bush administration from America's interests in Latin America?
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To the Point
Human Rights in the era of Donald Trump President Trump’s UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, said today the US might pull out of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Serious violators of human rights are members of the Council itself–and a US resignation could make things worse. Later on today’s show, now that he’s into his second term, comedian turned US Senator Al Franken is telling jokes again.
Left, Right & Center
The week that wouldn't quit Will next week get even weirder? (Special one-hour episode)
To the Point
White House budget proposal slashes and burns President Trump's first budget request is considered dead on arrival in Congress — a familiar development in Capitol Hill. We hear what it reveals about the priorities of the new administration. What's likely to die… and what might survive?
To the Point
Replacing Obamacare: Now you see it… now you don’t As the Senate deliberates replacing Obmacare, health coverage for millions of people is at stake. There've been no public hearings, and a draft measure won't be made public. Is the House version so unpopular that that Senate is hiding a version that looks much the same?